Being Intentional in Times of Crisis
We have all had quite a shock to our way of life this week. Long anticipated trips were cancelled, schools put on pause, we were asked to work at home … the list goes on. We’re also being asked to change our daily habits in substantial ways, such as no shaking hands, washing our hands frequently, and being aware of our own and others’ symptoms that warn us that something is wrong.
What comes to mind for me is that we’ll need to learn how to intentionally focus our attention on the present in situations more than ever, where we have not had to do so previously. For example, instead of mindlessly moving through routine tasks such as opening the door or touching the elevator button, we now need to be vigilant about what we are touching and make decisions to ensure we are safe.
At first this might not seem so difficult, until we realize just how many things we touch or what this means to how we interact with others. Most of us rely on our habits and automatic behaviors to ease the burden of our routine activities. We like being able to count on mindlessly going through the day. It’s comfortable and easy. Now, we have to be present for almost all activities and be intentional in what and how we do it.
A friend told me about a recent visit to the bank. He found himself pausing before he went in. As he sat in his car, he noticed that there were three or four customers inside. He decided to wait for them to come out before he went in. As he entered the bank and approached the counter, he turned his attention to what he had already touched and what else he would have to touch to conduct this transaction. Luckily, this transaction did not involve cash. That probably would have really thrown him a curve ball. As he left the bank and got into his car, he paused and thought about all of the surfaces he touched. He immediately grabbed his hand sanitizer and wiped his hands and then the steering wheel, because he touched it as he got in the car. As he began to drive away, he realized how much mental work this was and frankly he said he was a little tired and irritated.
If we’re going to make the changes that are necessary to avoid spreading this terrible virus, we are going to have to be very intentional in our behavior. We no longer have the luxury of mindlessly going through our day, even with the most routine activities. As you change your behavior, just know that it’s natural to feel a little frustrated and even fatigued. The good news is that as you build these new behaviors into your life, they will become routine and won’t require so much of your attention. Please take care of yourself and those around you. And keep in mind we need each other to defeat the spread of this dangerous virus. Over the next few days and weeks, we will provide more thoughts and suggestions to help you successfully navigate this new environment.